Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Something wonderful that happens to us as we are paying more attention to our souls...and that might not seem like such a wonderful thing.....is the day that we get flat out, undeniably SICK AND TIRED of the way things are.

If you find yourself in this place, lovely friend, take heart and know that this is the catalyst for deep and meaningful change and for the resolve it will take to get from where you don't want to be to exactly where you want to be, and never go back.

There must come a day when ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, when all of the excuses finally lose their power. There must come a day when things are so far from the path that feels like yours that you will do anything to get on the right path. THIS is a very good day, a day that deserves a thankful heart and serious consideration, attention and some of your undivided time.

So if you are sick and tired of the way things are, this is the doorway to the way things are meant to be. We must step out of what we don't want to be able to step into what we do want. It is SO WORTH IT.

Keep going, beautiful girl. You are going to get there. You are going to be ok. Everything is going to work out and this will be worth every tear you cry, every mile you walk, every hurdle you overcome.

Monday, February 20, 2012

I love this cool doodle by Stephanie Ackerman! (she is quite the talented doodler!!)

When I first saw it, it evoked a rush of satisfaction in my heart......

You see we raised our family in a small home.

Through the years of raising our little family we lived primarily in two places
and both of those homes were just at 1,000 square feet, with ONE bathroom.
I felt bad about it at times.........
But when I saw this little doodle and the quote it took on a whole new feeling.
I realize just how much our kiddos learned from those years
growing up close to one another and to us.

Sharing one bathroom certainly taught them a few life skills.
It was necessary to communicate with the other members of the family and
PLAN ahead as to when you were going to get your shower.
If you left it up to chance you might find yourself out of time!
Sharing, being considerate...all came into play.

We only had one TV all; those years so we spent all TV viewing time together.
I can still hear my sons laughter wafting through the entire house as he watched Funniest Home Videos.

I was also remembering that our lack of space never stopped us from hosting parties and holidays.
There were times it felt difficult, it was then that I would remember my own grandmother
managing to squeeze all of us into her even tinier home for every holiday and family gathering.
It would give me the resolve to make it work.
Funny thing is now each of my kiddos live in their own small spaces.
They too are making it work and growing their own tight families!

If you are finding yourself feeling like your living conditions are not optimum,
then I hope you will think of this quote and about how many families that grew
to be close and loving began in a "tight home"
and feel reassured that even in the little things like tiny homes
God has a plan and a purpose!

I sometimes wonder what we would think, how we would react to others, if we all

had little thought bubbles floating over our heads.

Thought bubbles that gave a description of what was going on in our hearts and lives.

Much like this video.

Would we be a little kinder,

more patient,

gentler,

sweeter,

would we be quicker to smile at strangers?

Would we be more understanding?

Would we be slower to anger?

Honestly I think we can all think of numerous times when we were in a position

that we wish someone could see our little thought bubbles!

Times when little understanding and kindness would have gone a long way.

Let me take you to one of those days I experienced this in a very real way.
In fact it was the day this very concept became real to me.

The ICU room was perfectly silent except for the sound of the heart monitor.
My mother laid there, her eyes closed,
I was not sure if she could hear me or understand anything I was saying.
But I felt led to talk, to love on her, to sing to her about God's amazing Grace.

That is when the quietness became even deafening.
I coud no longer hear the rythmic sounds of the monitor.
I knew what it meant, but...............

I was having a very hard time believing this was happening.

REALLY!?!?
She is DEAD!?

I was stunned, shaken, felt immediately weak at my knees.
After several minutes I felt the urgent need to get to the others.........
I made my way out the door and stepped into the vast hallway.
Upon my exit a stranger who was walking quite briskly down the corridor
brushed past me and nearly took my shoulder with him!
I struggled to stay upright, the weakness in my knees threatening to take over.
This person had no idea.
There was no "sorry", no acknowledgement actually....
they just sailed right on by quick to get to their destination.

IMMEDIATELY I had the thought...........

He does not know my mom just died!!!!!!

Since that day I have found myself thinking about how I do not know the story of others.

I do my best to be considerate and remind myself that we all have something,
a little bubble over our heads.

Oh yea, I have failed miserably many times!

But it is reminders like this that take me back

to a place where my heart remembers to

be considerate,

be mindful,

be kind,

be gentle....

Because you just never know the battle someone else is fighting.

I pray that as you go about your day you will begin to envision those little bubbles over

It is my desire in life to "share that which I know to encourage others."

Once again, they are DOING IT!

I also want you to know that I share this with permission

(on their blog they give full permission to share, as long as you know where it comes from)

So on to today's lovely message from the BGC.

I know a lot of women who could greatly benefit from these words today.

Dear Loveliest Lovely Girl,

So many things in life come to us in little pieces when really, we would love to know the whole thing, or have the whole thing. It is frustrating when we only know enough to get us through the day, or we only have enough to get us through the day, when we would love to know that we have enough to get us through the month, or the year, or the rest of our lives.

The truth of it is that we would never build up the kind of trust, faith and soul-peace that we need if we had everything we felt like we needed all the time, and always had enough for what we felt like we needed in the future too. We would not seek, or find because there would be nothing to seek or find. We would not know the joy of another day bringing us exactly what we need if we weren't so aware of what we needed every day. If we always had everything we felt like we needed, we would never even know what it feels like to need. So then we wouldn't know the joy, triumph, relief and peace that comes when what we need shows up.

So, beautiful friend, please just take heart. Please remember that everything happens exactly as it should, exactly when it should and exactly how it should, and that tomorrow will be the same. Take joy in the little miracles that show up right on time and feel the joy of knowing that your life is just one little miracle after another, so personally crafted and taken care of. Too many things happen too personally to ever believe that we are ever alone in this. Everything always comes right on time.

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About Me

It is my desire and passion to encourage and inspire women by sharing that which I know, what I have learned on my personal journey. Ultimately that they will know the peace and freedom that God has for them. I have written a curriculum that I offer as a 7-week series twice a year to help women overcome their struggles as I have done. With God as our guide we can live an effective life, the one He has planned and purposed for us.